18 Questions
What is the significance of the geographical spread of information regarding the medicinal use of a plant in ethnomedicine or folklore?
It increases the credibility of the information.
What is serendipity in the context of herbal drug development?
Chance discovery of medicinal properties during research
How does serendipity relate to the research on medicinal plants?
It involves unexpected discoveries.
Why is it important to deposit herbarium vouchers during the process of developing a herbal drug?
To authenticate plant identity
What do multiple ethnic or tribal groups using the same plant for the same purpose indicate about that plant's medicinal properties?
The information is more genuine.
In herbal drug development, why is it essential to establish the geographical spread of medicinal plant information?
To verify the credibility of medicinal claims
What is the primary purpose of depositing a voucher specimen in an international herbarium?
To document the plant for future reference
Who should a plant specimen be submitted to for identification if its medicinal properties are unknown?
A taxonomist
What is the role of a taxonomist in ethnobotanical surveys?
To authenticate the plant
Which of the following is NOT a tool used for taxonomic exercise in herbal drug development?
DNA sequencing
What is the significance of ensuring the correct plant material is used in herbal drug production?
All of the above
Who is responsible for collecting or re-collecting a plant identified as a candidate for herbal drug development?
A qualified botanist/taxonomist
What is the primary purpose of pharmacognostic evaluation in herbal drug development?
To establish the identity of the plant material and assess its quality and purity
Which of the following is NOT a common class of compounds found in pharmacognostic evaluations?
Proteins
What is the importance of depositing a herbarium voucher specimen?
To provide a reference for future identification and authentication of the plant
Which of the following is NOT a common step in pharmacognostic evaluation of a pharmacologically active plant?
Genetic sequencing of the plant
What is the main purpose of an ethnobotanical survey in the context of herbal drug development?
To establish the geographical spread of medicinal plant information
Who is responsible for the collection and authentication of medicinal plants for herbal drug development?
Botanists/taxonomists
Study Notes
Gathering Information on Medicinal Use
- Ethnomedicinal, folkloric, and other information gathering is the starting point of herbal drug development
- This involves gathering information on medicinal uses of a plant through ethnomedicinal or ethnobotanical studies, folklore, and literature
- Chance discovery (serendipity) of medicinal properties or therapeutic effects can also occur during research or experimentation
- Establishing the geographical spread of medicinal use information is important to determine its credibility
- The more the number of ethnic or tribal groups using the plant for the same purpose, the more credible the information is
- The more the number of states, countries, and continents that the use cuts across, the greater the assurance that the claim is authentic
Collection and Authentication of the Plant
- The plant identified as a candidate for herbal drug development must be collected and authenticated by a qualified botanist/taxonomist
- A voucher specimen is prepared and deposited in an international herbarium for future reference
- In case of an unknown plant with medicinal properties, a specimen is submitted to a taxonomist for identification and documentation
- Tools used for taxonomic exercise include Herbarium voucher deposition, Macroscopic and Microscopic studies, and chromosomes studies in extreme cases
- The correct plant material must be used in production to ensure quality control, optimal safety, and efficacy
Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Evaluations
- This stage involves pharmacognostic, phytochemical, and pharmacological evaluations of the plant
- Preliminary phytochemical screening, Thin layer Chromatographic (TLC) profiling, and moisture content are some of the parameters used
- Pharmacognostic evaluation gives an idea of the class of active ingredients, including flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, and others
- This evaluation is necessary to ensure the crude drug material has not been adulterated, mismanaged, or substituted with other plant-drugs
- Pharmacological evaluation is preliminary and can be in vitro, in vivo, or both
Learn about the stages involved in the development of herbal drugs, starting from ethnomedicinal and folkloric information gathering to the discovery of potential medicinal properties. Explore the process of how herbal remedies are derived from traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
